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■^53 STATE OF NEW JERSEY. 

Copy 1 



REPORT 



OF 



COMMISSIONERS 



TO CARE FOR 



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1802. 




TRENTON, N. J. 

Naar, Day & Naar, Printers 

1893. 



■*• 



STATE OF NEW JERSEY. 



RBPORT 



OF 



COMMISSIONERS 



TO CARE FOR 



Qetty^buf^ ijkttle jVtonurqerit^, 



1892. 



TRENTON, N. J. 

Naar, Day & Naar, Printers 

1893. 



037 15 1904 
D. ofO, 




Medallion on East. Face of Brigade Monument. 




Medallion on West Face of Brigade Monument. 



COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 



To His Excellency, Leon Abhett, Governor of New Jersey : 

The undersigned Commissioners, appointed by the Governor 
pursuant to Chapter 35 of the Laws of 1889, to enclose, care for 
and improve the monuments erected upon the Gettysburg bat- 
tlefield, herewith respectfully submit their final reporjt, the 
three years for which they were appointed having expired. 

With great respect we are your Excellency's obedient ser- 
vants. 

WILLIAM H. CORBIN, 
E. L. STRATTON, 
G. T. RIBBLE, 

Commissioners, 
Dated, Trenton, December 12th, 1892. 



REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS 

TO CARE FOR 

Gettysburg Battle Monuments. 



Under an act approved March 13th, 1889, entitled "An act 
relating to the Gettysburg Monuments," the Governor, on No- 
vember 8th, 1889, appointed Col. E. L. Stratton,of Mullica Hill, 
and William H. Corbin, of Elizabeth, to be Commissioners 
under said act. At a later date Dr. George T. Ribble, of Mil- 
ford, was appointed as the third Commissioner. 

By the act it is provided that "One thousand dollars annu- 
ally is appropriated for the purpose of properly enclosing, im- 
proving and caring for the said monuments and grounds, and 
that the said Commissioners be paid their actual expenses." 

By the same act the Governor was authorized to have a bronze 
tablet placed upon the monument erected to Battery A, with 
proper inscription to identify the same as Hexamer's Battery of 
New Jersey. 

In fulfilling the duties enjoined upon them by this law the 
Commissioners visited the Gettysburg battlefield in May, 1890, in 
June, 1891, in October, 1891, and in June, 1892. 

At the request of His Excellency, Governor Abbett, the Com- 
missioners took in charge under his direction the matter of 
placing an inscription in bronze upon the monument to Hex- 
amer's Battery. The work of the Commission will be best 
understood by speaking of the several monuments in detail and 
stating the work done upon each. 



GETTYSBURG BATl^LE MONUMENTS. 



First New Jersey Brigade. 

This monument is in the form of a circular watch tower, forty 
feet high, and stands upon a rocky wooded eminence to the 
north of Little Round Top and a hundred yards distant from, 
and much higher than Battlefield avenue, the nearest road. 
The Commission built a good carriage road winding around the 
hill as an approach to this monument, and extended the road in 
a true circle around the monument. The mason work was re- 
pointed where necessary, the ground leveled and graded and the 
new road well graded and graveled. This work was laid out 
and superintended by Mr. A. J. Zabriskie, of Newark, the 
engineer of the New York State Commission on Gettysburg 
Monuments, a gentleman of much skill and experience in his 
profession. The Commission are indebted to him for his cour- 
teous and friendly assistance. The monument is in perfect 
order and the approach and surroundings are, in the judgment 
of the Commission, in proper condition. The surroundings 
should, we think, be interfered with as little as is consistent 
with a decent maintenance of the monuments. 

The first New Jersey Brigade was composed of the First, 
<Second, Third, Fourth and Fifteenth Regiments of Volunteer 
Infantry. 




*«fe- , ^ 



Monument to First New Jersey Brigade. 

(north slope of little round top.) 




'^-""-"iMiumfiif ii_ 



Monument to Fifth Infantry. 

Cemmittsburg road.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSION. 



Fifth Infantry. 

This monument stands in the open field on the west side of 
the Emittsburg, road south of the Rogers House. It stands near 
the road on high ground. Its construction is simple and massive 
and after standing four years it displays not the slightest evi- 
dence of deterioration in any respect. We have guarded it with a 
low fence and caused the sodding to be kept in order and the 
grass to be cut. 



GETTYSBURG BATTLE MONUMENTS. 



Sixth Infantry. 

The monument stands on low, wet ground among the boulders 
to the north of Devil's Den. It is in perfect condition, re- 
quiring no repairs. We have had the ground properly graded 
and sodded and the grass cut. 




Monument to the Sixth Infantry. 

(devil's den.) 





.■^- 



MONUMENT TO SEVENTH INFANTRY. 

(trostle's field, near peach orchard.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSION. 



Seventh Infantry. 

The monument stands in Trestle's field, in the midst of the 
plain where Sickle's fight of July second was fought. It is com- 
posed of but two blocks of granite. It has required no repairs. 
The mound around it required enlargement, and this has been 
attended to. The sodding is now in proper condition and the 
surroundings decent and attractive. 



10 GETTYSBURG BATTLE MONUMENTS. 



Eighth Infantry. 

The monument stands at the extreme southerly corner of the 
wheat field, on the north bank of a brook. The Battlefield road 
runs along the north side, being the rear of the monument and 
several yards distant from it. We constructed a loop in the 
road about one hundred feet long running around the face of 
the monument. This we caused to be gravelled and put in 
good order. The grass has been kept cut. The site has been 
much improved. 






Monument to the Eighth Infantry. 

(southerly corner of wheat-field.^ 




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Monument to Eleventh Infantry, 

^IEMmittsburq road.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSION. 11 



Eleventh Infantry. 

The monument stands on the east side of the Emittsburg 
road, in the garden of a small farm house. It is in perfect 
order. We graded and sodded the ground and built a fence 
around the monument and kept the grass cut. 



12 GETTYSBURG BA'iTLE MONUMENTS. 



Twelfth Infantry. 

This monument was erected by the survivors of the regiment 
previous to the passage of the act of 1886, under which the 
other monuments were built by the State. The State in 1888 
erected a marker on the skirmish line at the site of the Bliss 
farm to commemorate the heroic charges made by the regiment 
upon that position. This marker is a single block of granite 
weighing eight tons, standing four feet above ground and ex- 
tending five feet below the surface. It needs no attention. The 
grass around it is in good condition. The monument erected by 
the survivors stands on the main line of battle of July third 
near the Bryan farm. The Commission, with the consent of the 
Regimental Association, took down this monument and rebuilt 
and enlarged it. A solid concrete foundation was built six feet 
deep as in the case of the other monuments ; a larger base and 
plinth were provided, and die and cap stones remaining the 
same. Upon the plinth the Commission caused to be placed a 
bronze tablet with an artistic representation of the charge upon 
the Confederate skirmishers stationed in the Bliss house and 
barn. This work cost one thousand dollars. The result has, 
we believe, fully justified the expenditure. The monument is 
now properly founded, is massive and attractive, and more 
worthy of the exploits of this noble regiment on the field of 
Gettysburg. 





Monument to the Twelfth Infantry. 



(south of BRYAN BARN, MAIN LINE OF BATTLE.) 




Tablet to Twelfth Infantry. 

••CODON'S FARM, ON THE SITE OF THE BLISS BARN.) 



•~*«*«fc 



\ 






Monument to Thirteenth Infantry. 

LOWEST BANK OF ROCK CREEK, MCALLISTER'S WOODS.)] 



REPORT OP COMMISSION. 13 



Thirteenth Infantry. 

The monument is located in McAllister's Woods, on the west 
bank of Rock Creek, on a rocky knoll to the south of Gulp's Hill, 
We built a road to it and a circular drive around it, as in the 
case of the Brigade Monument. The sodding was put in order 
and the grass kept cut. 



14 GETTYSBURG BATTLE MONUMENTS. 



First Cavalry. 

The monument stands on the farm line between Rummel and 
Schaeffer, on the field of the great calvary fight of July third, 
three miles east of Gettysburg. 

An avenue has been opened through this battlefield by the 
Gettysburg Memorial Association, and extended westwardly to 
this monument, where it ends. We have fenced the monument, 
graded and sodded the ground and kept the grass cut. The site 
is very greatly improved. 




Monument to First Cavalry. 

(rummel's farm.) 




Monument to Battery A. 

'main line [F battle, south of copse of trees.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSION. 15 



Hexamer's Battery "A." 

The monument stands on the east side of Battlefield avenue, 
on the field of July third, to the rear and left of the place where 
General Hancock was wounded. The former Commission had 
purchased a ten-pounder Parrot rifle and mounted it beside this 
monument. The carriage was a cheap affair, frail and unsuit- 
able. At a cost of one hundred dollars we provided a carriage 
made entirely of iron, which, in shape and appearance, is an 
exact /ac simile of the carriages used in actual service. The gun 
is now properly and permanently mounted. The ground has 
been graded and the grass cut. 

Under direction of the Governor a bronze tablet was placed 
on the face of this monument with thre following inscription, 
prepared and approved by the Governor : 

" Hexamer's New Jersey Battery. Commanded in this 
Battle by First Lieutenant Augustine N. Parsons." 

This was done in accordance with the requirements of the 
third section of the act of March 13, 1889. 



16 GETTYSBURG BATTLE MONUMENTS. 



Clark's Battery " B." 

The monument stands in the open field, of July 2d, near the 
position of the Seventh Infantry, above referred to. A ten 
pounder Parrot rifle, provided by the former Commission, has 
been mounted properly as in case of Hexamer's Battery. 








Monument to Battery B. 

(trostle's field, near peach orchard.) 



REPORT OF COMMISSION. 17 

The Commissioners believe that all the New Jersey monu- 
ments and markers, twenty-six in number, and their surround- 
ings, are in thorough order. Their solidity and the simplicity of 
their designs will tend to render them permanent. All are of 
granite of most excellent quality, and not the slightest deterior- 
ation is as yet noticeable in them. Even without any care or at- 
tention they will doubtless stand for centuries. The only one 
likely to need repairs in future is the Brigade Monument, which 
is built of a large number of stones and has many vertical 
joints; but even this one has a cap stone covering the entire 
monument. It also has bond-stones seven feet in diameter, a 
single stone constituting an entire course of masonry. 

There are now upon the Gettysburg battlefield about three 
hundred and fifty monuments. These are all under the care of 
the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association, a corporation 
of Pennsylvania, which has control over tlie field. This Associ- 
ation has a superintendent constantly in charge, and during the 
summer has laborers at work upon the roads. 

The management is enterprising and patriotic, but is some- 
what straightened by lack of funds. They cut the grass around 
the monuments at least twice a year and keep the roads in order. 

Our term of office, which was for three years, has now ex- 
pired. We are of opinion that it will be unnecessary to continue 
the Commission longer, unless the State should undertake some 
new work upon the field. 

RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. 

We have received from the State Treasurer the following 
sums: 

August 20th, 1890 $46 12 

100 00 

October 31st, 1891 127 30 

900 00 

2 



« 
18 GETTYSBURG BATTLE MONUMENTS. 

June 22d, 1892 $57 45 

" " 640 00 



.,870 87 



127 


30 


57 


45 


5 


00 


26 75 


17 50 



Our expenditures have been as follows: 

May 29th, 1890. Expenses of Commission to Gettys- 
burg $46 12 

October 31st, 1891. Expenses of Commission for the 
year, two trips to Gettysburg and two trips to 
Trenton 

June 3d, 1892. Expenses of trip to Gettysburg 

May 28th, 1890. W. B. Miller, care of Cavalry Monu- 
ment 

March 5th, 1891. W. T. Ziegler, cutting grass, 1890... 

June 25th, 1891. I. H. Rummel, grading and sodding. 

August 11th, 1891. N, G. Wilson, grading and fenc- 
ing and roads 39 85 

December 16th, 1891. Calvin Gilbert, two gun car- 
riages 200 00 

December 7th, 1891. N. G. Wilson, on account, roads, 

etc 200 00 

March 14th, 1892. Frederick & Field, on account, 

Twelfth Regiment Monument 500 00 

June 22d, 1892. N. G. Wilson, balance for roads, etc.. 25 00 

Frederick & Field, balance on Twelfth Regiment 

Monument 531 00 

June 21st, 1892. A, J. Zabriskie, surveying 8 00 



Total for care and improvements $1,783 97 

Balance on hand to be covered into State Treasury.... 86 90 

$1,870 87 



REPORT OF COMMISSION. 19 

All which is respectfully submitted this twelfth day of Decem- 
ber, A. D. 1892. 

WILLIAM H. CORBIN, 
E. L. STRATTON, 
G. T. RIBBLE, 

Commissioners. 



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